- EBRD Vice-President Alain Pilloux starts three-day trip to Moldova on Monday
- Pilloux, Moldovan authorities to discuss ways to support Moldova in context of war on Ukraine
- Food and energy security, EU accession candidacy at heart of talks
Alain Pilloux, the EBRD’s Vice-President, Banking, visits Moldova on Monday to underscore the EBRD’s support for Moldova in the wake of the war on Ukraine, for discussions with Moldovan leaders that will focus on the country’s food and energy security and how to progress Moldova’s European Union candidacy.
During his three-day visit, Mr Pilloux is also scheduled to visit Giurgiuleşti International Free Port, Moldova’s only sea-river port. The Bank is the sole owner of Danube Logistics SRL, the operator of the port. Giurgiulesti Port’s throughput has doubled in 2022, since Russia imposed a blockade on Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, showing the port’s value in boosting both Moldovan and regional food and energy security.
Mr Pilloux’s visit follows the signing in June of a €300 million EBRD loan to support Moldova’s energy security.
This fell within the €2 billion Resilience and Livelihoods Framework that the EBRD put together this spring to help Ukraine and neighbouring countries withstand the challenges of war, which has displaced millions of Ukrainians, including to Ukraine. The framework ranges from restructuring and emergency liquidity support for enterprises and recovery support for small and medium-sized enterprises to support for energy security.
In Moldova’s case, the EBRD is working closely with the government both on boosting energy security and on food security, including by actively promoting the continued successful operation and development of Giurgiulesti Port, a key infrastructure asset for the country.
While in Moldova, Mr Pilloux will meet President Maia Sandu, Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita, Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu, Minister of Economy and EBRD Governor Sergiu Gaibu, National Bank of Moldova Governor Octavian Armasu, development partners and business clients, as well as colleagues at Giurgiulesti International Free Port.
The EBRD is a leading institutional investor in Moldova and, to date, has invested €1.7 billion in the country through 158 projects. It has also provided advisory services to more than 1,000 Moldovan firms to help them improve performance and grow.
Its focus in Moldova is on creating an environment that supports private sector activity, promoting European standards across sectors and regional integration to bring domestic producers closer to their markets, as well as developing efficient and sustainable public utilities which have a direct impact on people’s lives.
